Toll telephone system.



A. E. CASE.

TOLL TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1914.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. E. CASE.

TOLL TELEPHONE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1914.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2' A, E. CASE, TOLL TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATiON FILED FEB. 9. I914.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wwmea: java/fir? ARTHUR E. CASE, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELTA ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF MARION, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

TOLL TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1%, H916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, ARTHUR E. CASE, a resident of Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toll Telephone Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The invention relates to toll telephone systems.

The invention designs to provide a prepayment telephone system in which the function of registering a call is automatically effected, 2'. 0., without special operation by the exchange operator and in which provision is made for automatically preventing count on the meter when the desired service cannot be given. By providing a system in which setting of the meter is a prerequisite to a connection with the exchange, delay caused by the necessity of the exchange-operator requesting and waiting for the act of the patron necessary to register is avoided, and by avoiding the requirement of any special act of the exchange-operator in making a credit, when the service cannot be given, drag upon the service, incident to the presence of the toll apparatus, is avoided. In the present invention, removal of the answering plug from the spring-jack at the exchange, while the receiver at the substation is off its hook, serves to prevent a count on the meter, and removal of the plug when such receiver is on the hook to cause the meter to count the call.

The invention also designs to provide an improved system including a meter at the exchange for registering the number of calls made by a subscriber from which readings may be taken without going to the subscribers telephone, and another meter at the substation to enable the subscriber to determine the number of calls which have been registered to check the readings taken at the oflice.

The invention further provides means for preventing either the exchange or the station meters from registering when the service desired by a calling party cannot be given.

The invention further provides a signal operated by the meter mechanism whereby the calling party will be informed (if the exchange-operator disconnects the answeringplug from the line) when the desired service cannot be given.

The invention further provides an exchange meter used in connection with the usual equipment and a station meter used in connection with the usual equipment at the sub-station talking equipment.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a prepayment toll telephone system embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the substation meter and mechanism when the subscribers receiver is off the hook before the operator has connected the line to the exchange. Fig. 2 is a view of the exchange meter and mechanism under these conditions. Fig. 3 is a view of the sub-station meter and mechanism when the subscribers receiver is off the hook and the operator has connected the line to the exchange. Fig. 3 is a view of the exchange meter and mechanism under these conditions. Fig. 4 is a view of the sub-station meter and mechanism when the subscribers receiver is on the hook and the line is connected to the exchange. Fig. 45* is a view of the exchange meter and mechanism under these conditions. Fig. 5 is a view of the sub-station meter and mechanism when the subscribers receiver is on the hook and the operator has disconnected the line at the exchange. Fig. 5" is a view of the exchange meter and mechanism under these conditions.

The invention is shown embodied in a tele phone system comprising the usual form of cord-loop and line circuit which are similar to the usual common battery telephone circuits, having a central exchange A and a sub-station B.

The exchange equipment comprises a cord circuit and the meter-circuit connected to the line between the exchange and the substation. The cord circuit comprises a switch-board including a spring-jack for each sub-station, a cord-loop connected to an answering plug 11 and. a calling plug 12, each plug comprising a sleeve-contact and a tip contact, an exchange battery 13 connected to the loop-conductor 14, 14 between the sleeve-contacts of the plugs 11 and 12, and a conductor 15, 15 between the tip-contacts of the plugs 11 and 12. The cord-circuit is shown provided with a listening and ringing key 16. The helices of electro-magthe art. Line conductors 19 and 20 extend from the spring contacts of jack 9 to sub station B and contacts 19 and 20 extend from the contacts of jack 10 to another substation (not shown, but equipped the same as sub-station B.) This cord circuit, being of the usual kind, will be understood by those familiar with the art.

A line relay 21 (of about 60 ohms resistance) is connected to the line-conductor 19 by the conductors 22, 22', and to the lineconductor 20 by conductors 23, 23. The battery connections 24 and 25 of the usual battery 26 to the line relay 21 are altered so that the current from the line relay will flow to line in the direction opposite to that supplied by the cord-circuit, that is, starting from the positive pole of the battery 26, the current will pass through conductor 25, one of the windings of relay 21,

conductors 22, 22, to the line-conductor 19,

through the substation B and thence through line-conductor 20, conductors 23, 23, the other winding of relay 21 and conductor 24, to the negative pole of battery 26. Current from battery 13 of the cord-loop passes from conductor 15, through the tip of plug 11, the tip-contact of spring-j ack 9 and line-conductor 20 to the sub-station and thence through the line-conductor 19, the sleeve-contact of jack 9, the sleeve-contact of plug 11 and conductor 14, back to battery 13. The line-relay 21 with its armature 27 operates the line-signal 28 when the subscriber at the sub-station B operates the switch-hook in the usual manner when removing the receiver therefrom. The armature 27 is so adjusted that it will not stick on 5000 ohms 'and so that it will pull up on 1000 ohms and fall back on as low resistance as possible.

A cut-ofi' relay 20 is connected, as usual, to the test-ring 30 by a conductor 31 and to ground through conductor 32.

The exchange meter comprises an electroin'agnet 33 and is connected in shunt with the line-signal 28 by conductors 34 and 35. The electro-magnet 33 actuates an armature 36 which is pivoted at 37 and has an extension 36 operatively connected to a spring contact 46. A pawl 38 is pivoted to armature 36 on a bracket 39, and is adapted to engage with a toothed wheel 40 of a counting device at the exchange, which is conventionally shown at 41. The armature 36 is held in position under conditions hereinafter described, by a pivoted latch 42 on the armature of an electro-magnet 43 which is adapted to operate said latch. The electromagnet 43 is shunted across the main line (conductors 19, 20) by conductors 44, 45, spring contacts 46, 47, and conductor 49 in which a condenser 48 is included. Relay 50, which is wound to about 20 ohms, is in conductor 20 of the line and has a non-inductive shunt 50 (30 ohms resistance) around it. Relay 50 operates its armature 51, which is provided with an extension 52 operatively connected to the pawl 38, so that the latter may be lifted to render it inoperative to step up wheel 40.

The sub-station talking equipment co1nprises a receiver R, a transmitter T and coils P, S, condenser 76, call ringer 78 and switchhook 52.

The sub-station meter comprises a polarized relay 33 (wound to about 5000 ohms resistance), which is connected to one side of the main line (conductor 19) by a conductor 51, switch-hook 52, post 53, and to the other side of the line (conductor 20) by a conductor 33. Relay 33 actuates its armature 36 which is pivoted at 37 and is normally held in a centralized position by two flat springs 37. Armature 36 is provided with an extension 39 which is adapted to engage an arm 59 which is pivotally connected at 60 to a lever 61 which is pivoted at 61 and is provided with a retractile spring 60' and carries the pawl 38 pivoted to it and which is adapted to engage with and step-up a toothed wheel 40 of the counting device at the sub-station B, which is conventionally shown at 41. Armature 36' is held in position under conditions hereinafter described, by a latch 42 which is pivoted at 64 and is provided with a pin 63. Lever 61 is operatively connected with spring contact 62 which, when the lever is in position shown in Fig. 2, engages with spring contact 66. Contact 66 is connected to post 53 by conductor 67. Spring contact 62 is connected by conductor 68 to a relay 50, which is wound to about 5000 ohms resistance and which is connected by conductor 70 to the conductor 51. Relay 50 actuates armature 51 which has an extension 52 adapted to engage with pawl 38, to render the pawl inoperative to step up wheel 40. Lever 61 is also operatively connected at one side to a spring-contact 71 which is adapted to engage a spring-contact 72. Spring contact 71 is connected to a conductor 73 which terminates in a contact adjacent one end of armature 36, and contact 72 is connected to con- 7 The operation of the system is as follows: To make a call, the subscriber at the substation B removes the receiver from the switch-hook 52, which establishes the following circuit: positive pole of the battery 26, conductor 25, relay 21, conductors 22, 22, line-conductor 19, post 53, switch-hook 52, conductor 51, relay 33, line-conductor 20, conductors 23, 23, relay 21, conductor 24 and negative pole of the battery 26. This results in energizing relay 33 which moves its armature 36 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Arm 39 on armature 36 moves arm 59 and lever 61 which is pivotally connected to it, to the right (Fig. 2) and the arm 61 is then secured in shifted position by the latch 42. In this position the contacts 62 and 66 and the spring contacts 72 and 71 are closed. Gontacts 62 and 66 being closed, the helix of relay 50 is de'energized, the circuit being as follows: post 53, conductor 67, con tacts 66 and 62, conductor 68, the helix of relay 50, to conductor 70, conductor 51 and switch-hook 52 to post 53. The receiver be ing off the hook also results in putting the telephone-set across the line, the circuit be ing as follows: positive pole of the battery 26, conductor 25, relay 21, conductors 22, 22, line conductor 19, post 53, switch-hook 52 primary of the coil P, transmitter T, con.- ductor 74, contacts 72, 71, conductor 73, armature 36, conductor 55, line conductor 20, conductors 23, 23 and relay 21 to the negative pole of the battery 26. The telephone-set being across the line, the line-relay 21 pulls up armature 27 and lights the line-lamp 28 to signal the exchange, the circuit being as follows: battery 26, conductor 28, signal lamp 28, armature 27, conductor 24, battery 26. At the same time the relay 33, which is shunted around the lamp circuit, as previously pointed out, pulls up armature 36 which is then secured by latch 42, as shown in Fig. 2 the circuit being as follows: battery 26, conductors 28, the helix of relay 33, con ductor 34, armature 27 and conductor 24. When the exchange armature 36 is pulled up by the relay 33, the extension 36 is moved to close the spring contacts 46 and 47 and to cut the relay 43 on the line, the circuit being through line-conductor 20, conductor 44, relay 43, conductor 45, contacts 46 and 47, condenser 48, conductor 49 and lineconductor 19. The meter relays are now energized, the linesignal 28 has been actuated to notify the operator that the calling party has set the meters in operative condition ready to record, subject to the following operation of the exchange operator and the subscriber: The operator on receiving the line-signal, inserts the answering plug 11 into jack 9. This connects up the cut-off relay 20 in the usual manner and cuts the line-relay 21 from the line, the connections between the contacts 23 and 23 and 22 and 22 being broken by the cut-off relay, the current on line for speech transmission be tween the exchange and the sub-station is reversed when the current from the line relay has been out off and the current of the cord circuit is on the line. This circuit for speech transmission is as follows; exchange battery 13, conductor 15, tip of plug 11, jack 9, tip-contact of line-conductor 20, the winding shunt of magnet 50, line-conductor 20, relay 33, conductor 51, switch-hook 52, line-conductor 19, the sleeve-contact jack 9, sleeve of plug 11, conductor 14, exchangebattery 13. The relay 21 being cut off, as previously described, the line-lamp 28 and relay 33 of the exchange-meter are in turn cut oil and on the deenergization of the relay 33, armature 36 is held during the period of reversal of the current as relay is made slow acting by having a copper head.

Reversal of the line-current, resulting from inserton of the answering plug 11 into spring-jack 9, causes the condenser 48 to discharge and charge in the opposite direction. Magnet 43 will momentarily lift latch 42 as the discharge and charge of current of condenser 48 pass through it, but will release the latch 42 to hold armature 36 before the slow-acting relay 33 releases the armature 36. Resultantly, armature 36 will be latched during speech transmission between the exchange and the sub-station, and the extension 52 on armature 51 will render the pawl 38 inoperative to step up wheel 40, as shown in Fig. 3.

At the sub-station, the reversal of current, due to the exchangeoperator plugging in the answering jack and connecting the cord circuit to the line, reverses the polarity of the relay 33, which will then pull the upper end of armature 36 toward the left. This breaks the contact between the armature 36 and contact 73, and establishes contact between armature 36 and conductor 75, thus connecting the telephone-set to the line through line -conductor 19, post 53, switch-hook 52, primary P of the coil,transmitter T, conductor 74, contact 75, armature 36, conductor 55 and line-conductor 20. The upper end of armature 36, in moving from the right to the left, does not shift lever 61, because extension 39 and notch 59 in pivoted arm 59 have inclined surfaces which permit said extension to slip out of said notch and under the projecting end of the pivoted arm and, because the upper end of armature 36 will engage the lower end of trip 58 and swing under and past it without causing the trip to operate stud 64 on latch 42. Thus, lever 61 and latch 42 will remain in position shown in Fig. 3 to keep contacts 62, 66 closed and the relay 50 deenergized while the receiver is oil? the hook was attracted.

and while the cord-loop is connected to the line at the exchange.

It the calling party receives the proper connection, talks, and hangs up the receiver R, as usual, sub-station relays 33 and 50 will be cut in series (making apath of about 10,000 ohms resistance across the line), the circuit being as follows: battery 13, conductor 15, tip contact of plug 11, the tip contact of jack 9, line-conductor 20, the helices of relay 33, conductor 70, relay 50, conductor 68, contacts 62 and 66, conductor 67, post 53, line-conductor 19, sleeve spring of jack 9, the sleeve of plug 11, conductor 14 and battery 13. This places such a resistance across the line as to cause the cord relays 17 to fall back and light the supervisory lamp 18 in the usual manner. The increased resistance will also cause armature 51 of relay 50 to fall back and release pawl 38, so that subsequent operation of said pawl will cause it to step up wheel 40 of the exchange meter, one step, as shown in Fig. 5 Sub-station relay 50 will then be energized, to pull up its armature 51 and permit pawl 38 to pass into operative relation to wheel 40. The operator on receiving the disconnect signah'removes the plug from the answering-jack 9. This cuts the cord circuit off the line which reverses the direction of the current in the line. This results in condenser 48 discharging and charging in an opposite direction, which causes relay 43 in the condenser circuit to pull up armature-latch 42 and allow the controlling armature 36 of the exchangemeter, to fall back, causing the pawl 38 to engage the toothed wheel 40 in the counting device and register one call. This reversal of current, caused by the removal of the plug at the exchange subsequent to the hanging up of the receiver at the sub-station, besides causing the operation of the exchange-meter, causes armature 36 of substation-relay 33 to operate the sub-station meter. When the exchange-operator plugged in, armature 36 of the polarized relay 33 was shifted so that its upper end When the line-circuit is interrupted by the withdrawal of the switchplug at the exchange with the receiver on the hook at the sub-station, the helices of relay 33 will be deenergized to release armature 36 and cause it to be moved to its centralized position by springs 37. This retraction of armature 36 will cause its upper end to engage trip 58 which will strike stud 64 and lift latch 42 to release the pawl carrying lever 61. Lever 61 will then fall back to its normal position and will operate pawl 38 to rotate wheel 40 one step before the armature 51 of the slow-acting relay 50 is released, as shown in Fig. 5.

From the preceding explanation it will be apparent that when the subscriber takes the receiver off the hook, he automatically signals the exchange operator, who makes the connection with the called party in the usual manner and after the party has finished his call, and hangs up the receiver, the meters at the exchange and the sub-station are then in condition to register and on the removal of the answering plug by th operator they will be synchronously operated to register a call at the exchange and the sub-station. If the exchange-operator withdraws the plug after the receiver at the calling station has been hung up, such withdrawal will automatically cause both the exchange and sub-station meters to be operated to record the-call.

If the desired service cannot be given, the operator pulls out the answering plug 11 while the calling partys receiver is ott' the hook and he is waiting for the call. This, as previously pointed out, will reverse the line current, but the receiver being off the hook, the sub-station relay 50 remains deenergized and consequently the extension 52 of the armature 51 engages pawl 38 and holds the pivoted pawl 38 out of engagement with wheel 40, and therefore prevents the registering of the station meter 41. Under the same conditions, exchange relay 43 will be energized to attract latch-annature 42, and relay 50 will also be energized to operate the pawl-holder 52 to hold pawl 38 out of operative relation with the wheel 40 of the exchange-meter, and armature 36 will be released by latch 4-2 to permit it to pass into its normal position, shown in Fig. 5, while the pawl 38 is held inoperative by extension 52 on armature 51. The shift of armature 36 to its normal position will break the circuit at contacts 46, 47. Armature 50, being slow-acting, will hold extension 52 until armature 36 has been restored to normal position, and, when the circuit is interrupted at contacts 46, 47, the relay 50 will be deenergized to release pawl 38. The removal of the answering plug by the operator reverses the line current through the relay 33, as previously pointed out, causing the upper end of armature 36 to move toward the right, as shown in Fig. 5, as previously explained, and to raise the latch 42 which strikes against a bell 77 and indicates to the subscriber that the line is busy, whereupon the subscriber hangs up the substation receiver. Armature 36 raises latch 42, by means of trip 58 under which the armature passes. At such time and during this movement of armature 36, pawl 38 cannot step up wheel 40 because it is held in inoperative position by armature 51.

In event the called connection is not completed, as indicated by the supervisory signal 18 on the calling side of the operators cord circuit, the calling subscriber can flash the operator with the hook switch in the usual manner and request credit, the operator immediately removes the plug from the answering jack 9 and the same events take place as when the operator removes the plug in case the line is busy, that is, the me ter controlling operating mechanisms at the exchange and substation do not register and the latch 42 strikes the bell 77 and thus shows that credit has been given. In lieu of a bell, any other suitable signaling device may be employed.

In making long distance calls, the exchangeoperator will remove the answering plug from the jack. for an instant while the receiver is oil the hook at the sub-station. Then the meter-controlling devices will be restored to normal position without operating the meters just the same as if the desired service could not be given. Upon reinsertion of the plug, the desired long distance connection will be given for which a special charge will be made in the usual manner, and without being recorded on the meters.

Incoming calls are not recorded because the ol'lice meter is set only when the line lamp 28 lights and the line relay 21 is on the line, which is not the case with incoming calls, as the cord circuit is cut in the line directly when such a call is made. The sub-station meter does not register as the calling operator has the plug in the line jack when the called party answers. The polarity of the battery 13 is in such a direction as to cause relay 33 to move the upper end of its armature toward the left, which is in the opposite direction to that necessary to set the meter.

In an incoming call, when the operator removes the plug with the calling partys receiver off the hook, the line relay circuit does not come on the line as the telephone set is cut oil the line at the contact 75, since the armature 36 is now moving toward the right. The telephoneset is not connected with the line through the contacts 7 5 and 62, as when the receiver is first removed on the outgoing call. as the armature 36, when its upper end moves toward the right, engages the trip ('58 which engages pin 64, lifts latch 42 which releases the lever 61 and thereby opens contacts 62 and 72. Relay 33 in so moving, will not move lever arm 61 in this direction, as the arm 59 is so arranged that armature 36 does not engage with it. The arm 61 is sluggish, while armature 36 is fast. Under these conditions, there is only the resistance of the relay 33 across the line which will not pull up the line-relay 21 so that the receiver will have to be replaced on the book before another call is made.

If the subscriber attempts to prevent the meters from registering by talking, hanging up and again removing the receiver from the hook by the time the subscriber thinks the operator is going to pull out the plug, the relay 50, which is made slow-acting by having a copper head, will hold the armature 51' away from the pawl 38 for a time sufficient to allow the meter to register.

The invention thus exemplifies a tolltelephone system in which the call will be automatically recorded at the sub-station and at the exchange the service is given, and in which the operation of the line-signal to obtain a call sets the meters before the service is rendered and so that if the de sired service is given, the call will be counted. The invention further exemplifies a toll-telephone system in which the acts necessary to record or to give credit for a call are automatically performed, without any special act upon the part of the exchange-operator, so that there will be no drag upon the service, caused by the presence of the meters either when service is given or when the meter-controlling devices are to be restored to normal position without counting the call.

The invention also exemplifies an exchange meter which registers the number of calls, made by the subscriber, at the exchange, and a station meter which registers the number of calls made by the subscriber, and which meters are both adapted to synchronously operate so that when the call is made by a subscriber at the substation, it will be recorded by both the exchange and station meters.

The invention also exemplifies a system whereby the meters at the exchange and the station will not register if the line is busy, is out of order, or the called party does not respond. In event the line is busy, a signal is actuated by the meter mechanism to notify the calling party of the condition of the line. It also provides a system wherein the relays will not register when the subscriber is making a long distance call, nor will they register in case of incoming calls.

The invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a telephone system, the combination of an exchange, a substation, a connecting line, a meter at the substation, meter-operating means, and suitable means and connections whereby the meter operating means will be operated without counting the call on the meter by disconnection of the calling line by the operator at the exchange before the subscriber disconnects the substation at the substation.

2. In a telephone system, the combination of an exchange, a substation, a connecting line, a meter at the substation, meter operating means, automatically operating means for setting the operating means when the line is connected at the exchange, and suit-' able means and connections whereby the meter-operating means will be automatically operated without counting the call by disconnection of the calling line at the exchange before the subscriber disconnects the line at the substation.'

3. In a telephone system, the combination of an exchange, a substation including a telephone set and a switch hook, a connecting line, a meter at the substation, meteroperating means, and suitable means and connections whereby disconnection of the line by the exchange-operator when the receiver is off the switch hook at the substation will operate the meter-operating means without counting the call.

l. In a telephone system, the combination of an exchange, a substation including a telephone set and a switch hook, a connecting line, a meter at the substation, meteroperating means, means for setting the op erating means when the line is connected at the exchange, and suitable means and connections whereby disconnections of the line by the exchange operator when the receiver is off the switch hook at the substation will operate the meter operating means without counting the call.

5. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone set and a switch-hook, a connecting-line, a signaling-device at the exchange for indicating when the receiver is on the hook at the sub-station, a meter at the substation, and controlling means and connections for said meter, including a polarized magnet, means for causing current of one polarity to energize said magnet when the receiver of the telephone-set is ofii the switch-hook and before the connection is made at the exchange, means for causing current of opposite polarity to energize said magnet when connection is made with the line at the exchange in response to the line signal, and a magnet in the circuit controlled by said switch-hook.

6. In a telephone system, the combination of an exchange, a substation, a connecting line, a meter ,at the exchange, meter operating means, and suitable means and connections whereby the meter operating means will be automatically operated Without counting the call on the meter by disconnection of the calling line by the operator at the exchange before the subscriber disconnects the substation at the substation.

7. In a telephone system, the combination of an exchange, a substation, a connecting line, a meter at the exchange, meter operating 'means, automatically operating means for setting the operating means when the line is connected at the exchange, and suitable means and connections whereby the meter operating means will be operated without counting the call when the exchange operator disconnects the calling line at the exchange before the subscriber disconnects the substation at the substation.

8. In a telephone system, the combination of an exchange, a substation including a telephone set and a switch hook, a connecting line, a meter at the exchange, meter operating means, means for setting the operating means when the line is connected at the exchange, and suitable means and con nections whereby disconnection of the line by the exchange operator when the receiver is off the switch hook at the substation will operate the meter-operating means without counting the call.

9. A telephone system comprising an exchange, a sub-station including a telephoneset and a switch-hook, a connecting line, a meter at the exchange, and suitable means and connections whereby said meter will be operated to count the call if the receiver is on the switch-hook at the sub-station when the line is disconnected at the exchange.

10. A telephone system comprising an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone set and a switch-hook, a connecting line, a meter at the exchange, and suitable means and connections whereby the meter will be operated to count the call when the exchange is disconnected from the line, if the receiver is placed on the switch-hook at the sub-station before the line is disconnected by the operator at the exchange.

11. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switchhook, a connecting line, a meter at the exchange and controlling means and connections for said meter whereby the motor will be operated to count the call, if the receiver is on the switch hook at the sub-station when the line is connected at the exchange, and whereby said meter will be rendered inoperative to count the call when the line is disconnected at the exchange, when the receiver is off the hook at the sub-station.

12. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting line, a signaling-device at the exchange for indicating when the receiver is on the hook at the sub-station, a meter at the exchange and controlling means and connections for said meter, including a magnet, means for causing current of one polarity to energiie said magnet when the receiver of the telephone-set is oil the switchhook and before the connection is made at the exchange, means for causing current of opposite polarity to energize said magnet when connection is made with the line at i i l l l the exchange in response to the line signal, and a magnet in the circuit controlled by said switch-hook.

18. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station, a connecting line, a meter at the sub-station, a meter at the exchange, and means and connections for controlling said meters to render them inope 'ative to count a call when the calling line is disconnected by the operator at the exchange before the subscriber disconnects the sub-station at the sub-station.

14. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone set and a switch-hook, a connecting line, a meter at the sub-station, a meter at the exchange, and means and connections for controlling the meters to render them inoperative to count a call when the calling line is disconnected by the operator at the exchange before the subscriber places the receiver of the telephoneset on the switch-hook.

15. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a tclephoneset and a switch-hook, a connecting line, a meter at the exchange, a meter at the sub-station, and suitable means and connections whereby said meters will be operated to count the call if the receiver is on the switch-hook at the sub-sta tion when the line is disconnected at the exchange.

16. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting line, a meter at the exchange, a meter at the sub-station, and suitable means and connections whereby the meters will be operated when the exchange is disconnected from the line, if the receiver is placed on the switclrhook at the sub-station before the line is disconnected by the oporator at the exchange.

17. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-h ook, a connecting line, a meter at the sub-station, a meter at the exchange, and controlling means and connections for said meter whereby the meters will be operated to count the call, if the receiver is on the switch-hook at the substation when the line is connected at the exchange, and whereby the meters will be rendered inoperative when the line is disconnected at the exchange, when the receiver is olt the hook at the sub-station.

18. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a substation including a telephone set and a switch hook, a connecting line, a meter at the substation, a meter at the exchange, controlling means and connections for said meters whereby they will be operated to count the call when the receiver is placed on the switch-hook at the sub-station before the line is disconnected at the exchange and whereby the meters will be rendered inoperative to count the call when the sub-station is disconnected at the exchange before the receiver is placed on the hook at the sub-station, and means at the exchange for indicating whether the receiver is on or oil" the hook.

19. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch book, a connecting line, a meter at the substation, a meter at the exchange, and controlling means and connections whereby the operation of the meters by the controlling means to count the call will be dependent upon the time when the receiver of the telephone-set at the sub-station is placed on the hook relatively to the time when the line is disconnected at the exchange.

20. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station, a connectingline, a line signal at the exchange, meters at the exchange anc. sub-station, respectively, meter-controlling mecha nisms, means for operating said mechanism to set them for operation of the meter when the line-signal is operated, and means and connections for rendering said controlling mechanisms inoperative to count a call when the calling-line is disconnected by the opcrator at the exchange before the subscriber disconnects at the substation.

A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-sation including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting-line, meters at the sub-station and exchange, respectively, meter-controb ling mechanisms, a line-signal, means for operating said mechanisms to set them for operation of the meter when the line-signal is operated, and means and connections for controlling said mechanisms to render them inoperative to count a call when the calling-line is disconnected by the operator at the exchange before the subscriber places the receiver of the sub-station telephone-set on the switch-hook.

22. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting line, meters at the exchange and sub-station, respectively, meter controlling mechanisms, a line-signal, means for setting said mechanisms to operate the me ters when the line-signal. is operated, and suitable means and connections whereby said mechanisms ill be operated to count a call if the receiver is on the switch-hook at the sub-station, when the line is disconnected at the exchange.

23. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting-line, meters at the exchange and sub-station, respectively, meter-controlling mechanisms, a line-signal, means for setting said mechanisms to operate the meters when the line-signal is operated, and

suitable means and connections whereby the meter-controlling mechanisms will be operated to count a call when the exchange is disconnected from the line, if the receiver is placed on the switch-hook at the substation before the line is disconnected by the operator at the exchange.

241. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting line, meters at the exchange and sub-station, respectively, meter-controlling mechanisms, a line-signal, means for setting the controlling-mechanisms to operate the meters when the line signal is operated, and means and connections whereby said mechanisms will be operated to count a call if the receiver is on the switch-hook at the sub-station when the line is disconnected at the exchange and whereby said mechanisms will be rendered inoperative to count the call when the line is disconnected at the exchange when the receiver is oil the hook at the substation.

25. A telephone system comprising the .combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting-line, meters at the exchange and sub-station, respectively, meter-controlling mechanisms, a line-signal, means for setting the controlling mechanisms to operate the meters when the line signal is operated, means and connections whereby said mechanism will be operated to count a call if the receiver is on the switch-hook at the sub-station when the line is disconnected at the exchange and whereby said mechanisms will be rendered inoperative to count the call when the line is disconnected at the exchange when the receiver is off the hook at the sub-station, and means at the exchange for indicating whether the receiver is on or off the hook.

26. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting-line, meters at the exchange and sub-station, respectively, meter controlling mechanisms, a line-signal, means for setting the controlling mechanisms to operate the meters when the line-signal is operated, and means and connections whereby said mechanisms will be operated to count a call if the receiver is on the switch-hook at the sub-station when the line is disconnected at the exchange and whereby said mechanisms will be rendered inoperative to count a call when the line is disconnected at the exchange when the receiver is off the hook at the sub-station, and a signaling-device at the sub-station for indicating when the exchange operator disconnects the line.

27. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set and a switch-hook, a connecting-line, meters at the exchange and sub-station, respectively, meter-control ling mechanisms, a line-signal, means for setting said mechanisms when the line-signal is operated, and means and connections whereby the operation of said mechanisms to count a call at the exchange and at the sub-station will be dependent upon the time when the receiver of the telephone-set at the sub-station is placed on the hook relatively to the time when the line is disconnected at the exchange.

28. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a line signal at the exchange, a sub-station, a connecting, a line-relay circuit, a meter at the exchange, meter-controlling mechanism, means comprising a relay in the line-relay circuit for operating said mechanism to set it for operation of the meter when the line-signal is operative, and means and connections for rendering said controlling-mechanism inoperative to count a call when the callingline is disconnected by the operator at the exchange before the subscriber disconnects the sub-station at the sub-station.

29. In a telephone system, the combination with a telephone circuit comprising an exchange, of a sub-station and a connecting line, meters at the exchange and sub-station and means and connections for synchronously and automatically operating said meters to count a call at the exchange ,and at the sub-station when the exchange operator disconnects the line at the exchange if the subscriber at the sub-station has received his call.

30. In a telephone system the combination with a telephone circuit comprising an exchange, of a sub-station and a connecting line, meters at the exchange and sub-station and means and connections for automatically and synchronously and automatically operating said meters to count a call at the exchange and at the sub-station when the exchange operator disconnects the line at the exchange if the subscriber at the substation has received his call.

If the subscribed attempts to prevent the with a telephone-circuit comprising an exchange, a line-relay circuit, a sub-station and a connecting line, of meters at the exchange and sub-station, means comprising a relay in the line-relay circuit and a relay in the connecting line and connections for said means for synchronously operating said meters to count a call at the exchange and at the sub-station When the subscriber at the sub-station disconnects the sub-station at the sub-station before the operator disconnects the exchange at the exchange.

32. In a telephone system, the combination With a telephone circuit comprising an exchange, a line relay circuit, a sub-station, and a connecting line, of a meter at the substation and a meter at the exchange, metercontrolling mechanism for the exchange and sub-station meters, and means comprising a relay at the sub-station in the connectingline at the connections for the same for operating said mechanism at the sub-station to set it for the operation of the meter, and means comprising a relay at the exchange in the line-relay circuit and connections for the same for operating said mechanism at the exchange to set it for operation of the exchange meter, both of said relays being controlled by the subscriber at the sub-station and means and connections under the control of the exchange-operator to synchronously operate the exchange and substation meters to count a call.

83. A telephone system comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone set, a switch-hook and a connecting-line, of meters at the exchange and sub-station, controlling mechanisms for said meters, means and connections for operating said controlling mechanisms to set them for operation of the meters When the subscriber removes the receiver of the telephone-set from the hook and means and connections for synchronously operating said exchange and station-meters, causing them to count a call after the subscriber disconnects the calling line at the sub-station and when the operator disconnects the exchange at the exchange.

34. A telephone system, comprising the combination of an exchange, a sub-station including a telephone-set, a switch-hook and a connecting line, of meters at the exchange and sub-station, controlling mechanism for said meters, means and connections for operating said controlling mechanisms to set them for operation of the meters when the subscriber removes the receiver of the telephone set from the hook and means and connections for automatically and synchro nously operating said exchange and station meters, causing them to count a call after the subscriber disconnects the calling line at the sub-station and When the operator disconnects the exchange at the exchange.

35. A telephone system, comprising the combination of an exchange, a line-relay circuit, a sub-station including a telephone set, a switch-hook and connecting line, of meters at the exchange and sub-station, controlling mechanism for said meters, means comprising arelay in the line-relay circuit and a relay in the connecting line, and connections for operating said controlling mechanisms to set them for operation of the meters when the subscriber removes the receiver of the telephone-set from the hook and means and connections for synchronously operating said exchange and station meters causing them to count a call after the subscriber disconnects the calling line at the sub-station and When the operator disconnects the exchange at the exchange.

ARTHUR E. CASE.

Witnesses EARL TENrns'rY, THELMA BAILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID.v G. 

